Hmmm, a 50 passenger "green Bus" with 1 or 2 people on it. How is this saving us money? A mimi van could do the exact same thing. How many years will the city continue to run this waste of tax payers money?

Wish we could bring back the Ogle's. Duane took a fledging Rapid Transit System owned by Wichita transit and made it one of the only profitable public transportations systems in the US. He retired after 30+ years and his son, Chris took over and revolutionilized the company running a successful and... profitable operation up until he sold the company. It has been all downhill from there. We lost Duane almost a decade ago but Chris is still around. If the city was smart, they would see if Chris would give imput into how the city can improve the operation of the system. Classic example of-If you want to screw something up, get the government involved.

Using it more since I am getting older. Of course I am not affraid to use public transportation since I was raised in a large city and a large percentage of the people used public transportation because it was cheaper than having a car. As I grow older and my reaction time gets slower I will probably get rid of my car, which would be a safer thing to do.

Why would anyone want to ride the empT when it does not go where you need it to, have to stand out in the cold for a half hour waiting on it, and when you get on it, you get to sit by some stinky homeless dude who got a free pass from the shelter to boost ridership numbers?

How does the bus not go where you need it to? There are routes all over town. And if the bus is so "empT", why are you sitting by someone who stinks? Move to a different seat. And why are you standing "out in the cold for a half hour waiting" for the bus? The schedule is published. You know when the bus will arrive. Why not wait until a few minutes before to go out and catch the bus?

I was in the same boat as you not long ago. I now have a new car and no longer ride the bus, except when I want to go downtown. No reason to deal with parking down there, when all buses lead to downtown, right?

Most jobs around these days, especially in Lawrence, do not pay enough to afford much at all. Even if he can afford a car, repairs are very costly. You do not know his situation, or mine for that matter, so your statement is ridiculous.

that American Eagle plant would have given Lawrence some nice decent paying jobs. The city leaders told them 'no thanks', we're too good for you. There are lots of people with good jobs in Ottawa now. Guess what. They pretty much all have cars. Some of them drive nice brand new ones too.

the city demanded a 'living wage', AE told Lawrence it was none of its business what they paid, AE moved to Ottawa and pays well over what Lawrence put as the floor. Basically, the town liberals put their foot right square in their mouth. The town is tone deaf when it comes to commerce.

I know just the thing to grow Lawrence. How about a brand new library. My property taxes only went up $100 per year last year. Heck my home is worth what I paid for it in 2001 and still falling! There are about 50 houses for sale in my neighborhood. At this rate, my property taxes might be 10 times my homeowners insurance in a few years. Keep wasting money Lawrence.

You pointed out that your home is worth what you paid for it about ten years ago. How much rent do you think you would have had to pay to rent a similar home for ten years?

In dollars that have not been adjusted for inflation, you haven't lost anything. It is a misconception that has been around for a very long time that a house will automatically increase in value with time.

no rent, but I've paid about $6,000 per year in repairs and maintenance and $5 to $6,000 in insurance and property taxes. The taxes continue to go up and the repairs and maintence aren't going down. I would LOVE to be a renter.

I would move. Somewhere with adults in charge that don't let a few developers rob the city blind. Unfortunately I can't afford it . If I want to be able to retire someday and pay for my kids education. In case you haven't noticed, people aren't buying homes in Lawrence anymore. Now if my property taxes keep going up that equation might change.

oh. and why not let developers do whatever the heck they please, Lawrence. Like putting in fake grass at the already overbuilt apartment complexes that are sprouting up like weeds all over West Lawrence.

wake up. Lawrence isn't some Mecca that has people breaking its doors down to move here. People want to get out if this place. High taxes. no jobs. overpriced housing. too many renters. corrupt and wasteful city government. growing crime.

Oh big surprise. People who post on LJW don't ride the bus. A few years ago you would have thought the special tax for the bus wouldn't have passed if you read the posts on here. Guess what!!! It passed by 70%. Apparently the posters on here are a minority. Don't worry. We will try and protect your rights. Or if you are Libertarian, you are free to leave the city of Lawrence, just like you are free to leave your job and if you don't like the situation there.

when has a tax increase ever not passed in Lawrence? You could have a tax increase to fund a study on how to increase taxes and it would pass in this town. It doesn't hurt that the city government and leaders are willing to lie and cheat to cram their pet projects through the votes, either.

but it's weird. I've yet to meet a single person in real life that has one good thing to say about the MT.

Funny that I never had any issues ( or very few) with being harassed by other passengers( and even the drivers) in any other town or bus system but Lawrence's. I stopped trying to use the bus a few years ago because too many people mess with me. Sure do not enjoy mountain people and other unsophisticates! They are not going to win me over this year with their thick-headed ways. Lack of social equality is a given in southern culture, and Lawrence shows the strongest influences of this I hope to ever experience--backward beyond words and frighteningly ignorant.

I am sorry to see some of these disrespectful comments regarding our bus service. I for one am a disabled, elderly rider of the bus, and without it being available I would be in a fix. I feel freedom when I can decide to go anywhere in Lawrence and be able to board the bus to get me there. I see all these negative statements on here, but I would like to share just one of my positive experiences I have had on a Lawrence bus ride......I hesitated to travel by bus, being afraid that I would hold things up for other riders, due to my having to have my walker with me. One day I decided to try it and when the bus picked me up the driver put me and my walker on the lift and helped me right into the bus, and it was full. Four young high school boys all said "Here Mam" take my seat. No one on the bus acted rude or put out, due to waiting for me to board. The boys were total gentlemen and the driver went out of his way to help me on and off. I had a wonderful bus experience and I now feel I can use the bus and enjoy my freedom anytime I choose too. Please don't take that away from those of us who have no choice in getting older, because someday it could be you with that walker.

i lost my transportation four years ago i rode the bus to work and home never had any problems. I broke my ankle last March I tried using Independence Inc but the lady who schedules rides has no customer service skills...... i was so glad when i got approved for temporary Tlift rides. the drivers were all so great and made sure I was safe and got to my destination before I was left. No scheduling issues ever. At least i got to keep my job because i had a way to get to work without paying $9 one way for a taxi ride.